Boxer Biggs Treated For Drug Problem

January 31, 1985|By Rich Lorenz.

Tyrell Biggs, the Olympic super heavyweight gold-medal winner, voluntarily spent three weeks undergoing treatment for drug abuse and has been discharged from a California facility, boxing promoter Dan Duva said Wednesday. He wouldn`t specify the drug with which Biggs was involved. Biggs` first pro bout was Nov. 15. He hasn`t fought since.

-- Chicagoan Ron Amundsen will be a member of the U.S. team in a nationally televised amateur match Saturday against boxers from Ireland. Amundsen, a junior middleweight, has a 71-13 record.

JUST TOO RIGOROUS FOR RIGGINS

Washington Redskins` running back John Riggins passed out at a black-tie dinner and slept on the floor for an hour through speeches by Vice President George Bush and several members of Congress. Riggins, a guest of People magazine at the Washington Press Club`s annual ``Salute to Congress`` dinner, was seated at a table with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O`Connor and her husband, John. One guest at the People magazine table said Riggins called out on several occasions to O`Connor, ``Come on Sandy, baby, loosen up. You`re too tight.`` After the filet mignon course in the $65-a-plate dinner, Riggins left his chair, walked around the table, kneeled beside the table, sat down, then lay down and fell asleep. Riggins lay on the floor between tables for the rest of the evening, occasionally snoring, as waiters and waitresses served desserts, cleared tables and stepped around him. After the party was over, guests woke Riggins up, helped him back to his chair and he left the hotel ballroom on his own.

-- Bears` running back Walter Payton has been named winner of a 1984 Black Athlete of the Year award. Payton received 199 points in balloting by a group of black sports writers and broadcasters to earn a $25,000 check and a hand-sculptured trophy by artist Ed Dwight. New York Mets` pitcher Dwight Gooden was second with 154 points.

-- Mike Hughes, an assistant coach at De La Salle, is expected to be named the head coach by principal Brother Joseph Saurbier. Hughes will succeed Todd Wernet, who coached the team to the Prep Bowl title and then left to take over as coach at St. Rita. Hughes played at De La Salle in 1964, and was an assistant at Little Flower, St. Rita and Ridgewood.

MANTLE BAN ENDING?

Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle, barred from baseball two years ago for his affiliation with a casino, says he`s hopeful commissioner Peter Ueberroth may lift the ban. Former commissioner Bowie Kuhn barred Mantle in February, 1983, from holding a job with any major-league club after the ex-New York Yankee slugger accepted a job as a ``good will ambassador`` for Claridge Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. In 1979, Kuhn forced Hall of Famer Willie Mays to give up his job with the New York Mets after he took a casino promotions job with Ballys in Atlantic City.

-- Infielder Vance Law has agreed to a three-year contract, plus two option years, with the Montreal Expos. Law filed for arbitration last week, seeking a contract worth $315,000. The Expos countered with $265,000. The first three years of the deal is believed to be worth about $1.2 million.

-- Management and the baseball players` association have resolved the issue of mandatory drug testing. Teams will be prevented from establishing testing programs.

-- Second baseman Julio Cruz of the White Sox and pitcher Scott Sanderson of the Cubs are among 26 players nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award, presented annually to a player exhibiting sportsmanship, character, community involvement, humanitarianism, playing ability and contributions to the team and the sport.

RECORD STANDARDBRED SYNDICATION

The Wall Street Stable`s Lou Guida has announced that world champion pacer Nihilator, the fastest 2-year-old in the history of harness racing, has been syndicated for a record $19.1 million.

-- Maybe this will control Kentucky Derby crowds. Churchill Downs has selected a new director of security: John Wayne, 30, of Louisville.